Kelowna and Vernon fans can get a double dose of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra this weekend, as the symphony brings in a family matinee in the afternoon and renowned Canadian talent at night.

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents the Russian classic Peter and the Wolf in Penticton April 6, Kelowna April 7 and Vernon April 8. Following the Kelowna and Vernon matinees, the symphony also welcomes the modern-day Renaissance woman Sarah Slean at night.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a little crazy that we乌鸦传媒檙e doing two shows in one weekend,乌鸦传媒� laughed music director and conductor Rosemary Thomson.

While they often try to balance shows out and spread them over a couple of weeks, Thomson said the orchestra couldn乌鸦传媒檛 pass on the chance to feature Slean.

乌鸦传媒淪arah, she乌鸦传媒檚 just such a consummate artist,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said of the three-time Juno nominee.

Slean, who performs with the symphony on the heels of her 2017 release Metaphysics, boasts a career spanning more than two decades and 11 albums alongside two volumes of poetry and a handful of short films.

乌鸦传媒淗er level of artistry is so high but very personal,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淧eople will love her. She puts on a wonderful show.乌鸦传媒�

Performing songs from Slean乌鸦传媒檚 repertoire, Thomson said the audience is in for a thrilling ride of deep music inspired by musical greats like Leonard Bernstein, Joni Mitchell and Johann Sebastian Bach.

乌鸦传媒淚n the age of pop music, it can be often derivative,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said of the current state of the music world. 乌鸦传媒淪he (Slean) has the ability to touch, imagine and stay with you for a while.乌鸦传媒�

Beautiful imagery is abundant in Slean乌鸦传媒檚 work, weather audio or visual, Thomson said, noting a piece of Slean乌鸦传媒檚 that has a woman sitting at a grand piano.

乌鸦传媒淥ne is influenced by the other,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said of Slean乌鸦传媒檚 talent. 乌鸦传媒淵ou can really be inspired with music because of artwork.乌鸦传媒�

Featuring Slean乌鸦传媒檚 original compositions alongside Broadway hits, it乌鸦传媒檚 a sampling of music outside of the traditional OSO box that Thomson is excited to offer.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 going to be quite eclectic and unique. It乌鸦传媒檚 exemplary of the things she does. There are some fantastic arrangements for orchestra. It乌鸦传媒檚 really fun when the orchestra gets music they can really sink their teeth into,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd, if we have patrons who don乌鸦传媒檛 know either (Sloan or the OSO) it乌鸦传媒檚 such a musical feast.乌鸦传媒�

But, before Kelowna and Vernon audiences can enjoy the offerings of Slean, the OSO will grace the Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon stages with Peter and the Wolf, a performance meant to inculcate a love of the performance arts in young audiences.

Peter and the Wolf, which has been expanded by playwright Allison Green, marks the reintroduction of the family matinee in Vernon, the last of which occurred roughly eight years ago in one of Thomson乌鸦传媒檚 first seasons with the OSO.

乌鸦传媒淚 would love to do a season of three matinees,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a great way to introduce kids to theatre.乌鸦传媒�

Written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev in 1936, Peter and the Wolf was expanded into a full-blown theatrical production that has the orchestra wrap around the stage and has an instrument to back each of the main characters. The violin is attributed to Peter, the flute to the bird, an oboe to the duck, a clarinet to the cat and three horns to the Wolf.

Complete with seven actors on stage under direction by Tracy Ross, the one-hour performance features largely the original score with the addition of singing, such as a tango-piece to lessen the Wolf乌鸦传媒檚 frightening demeanour.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e seen four-year-olds love it and 94-year-olds love it,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淚 think the piece has a lot of familiarity. It乌鸦传媒檚 a great, iconic piece.乌鸦传媒�

Following the adventures of Peter and his animal friends, Peter and the Wolf is ripe with comedic bursts.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of that old-style cartoon humour,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淭he animals bicker with each other. Gosh, they remind me of my kids.乌鸦传媒�

And, whether it乌鸦传媒檚 a production that aims to pique interest in the arts or a performance that features renowned Canadian talent, Thomson said that love of the art form is what the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is all about.

乌鸦传媒淲hen you乌鸦传媒檙e in the space with the audience and the orchestra is playing, it乌鸦传媒檚 just magical. Our tag-line is see it, hear it, love it,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 the magic of live music.乌鸦传媒�

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Sarah Slean 7:30 p.m. April 7 at the Kelowna Community Theatre and 7 p.m. April 8 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $56.25 adult, $49 senior, $26.75 student and child and $25 first two rows and are available at .

笔谤辞办辞蹿颈别惫乌鸦传媒檚 is 6:30 p.m. April 6 at Penticton乌鸦传媒檚 Cleland Community Theatre, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. April 7 at the Kelowna Community Theatre and 2 p.m. April 8 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $23 adult, $19 senior, $14 student and child and $62 for family (four tickets) and are available at .